REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 02059997 (England and Wales)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 518275
Report of the Tru8teos and
Flnancial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
for
VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.)
DHB Accountants Limited
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
110 Whitchurch Road
Cardiff
CF14 3LY
17)

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
{V.E.S.T.
Contents of the Flnancial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Page
Report of the Truste88
Slatement of Trustees. ResponslbSllties
Independent Examlnorfs Report
statement of Financlal Actlvltie8
Balance Sheet
Not88 to the Flnanclal Statements
10 to 15
Detailed Statement of FinanGial Actlvltles
16 to 17

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.) (Registered number: 02059997)
Report of the Trusteos
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their
report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. Th8 trustees have
adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice
applicable to charities preparing their accounts in.accordance with the Flnancial Reporting Standard
applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102} (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives, Operatlons, Organisatlon and Funding.
VEST is a company limited by guarantee without share capital and is a registered charity. It is governed by a
Memorandum and Articles of Association that were last amended on 26 September 2013.
VEST operates a fleet of specially adapted vehicles provlding a "door-to-doorf, transport service to people for
whom the use of coriventional public transport presenls difficulties due to restricted mobility through Illness,
age or disability. VEST serves the residents of Cardiff and Ihe Vale of Glamorgan, It operates three services..
Community Transport (CT), Di81-a-Bus and Ring & Ride (DR). CT is the purely charitable element of VEST,
The seniice is operated on behalf of the Cardiff and Vale Local Authorities on a net Cost recovery basis.
Community Transport currently owns and operates five (3 to 14 seat) minibuses providing a scheduled
transport service to Day Centres, clubs and charitable organisations such as the Stroke Association, Age
Concem, the Parkinson's Disease Society and Sight Life Wales. Around these scheduled bool<ings, and
subject to the availability of vehicles and drivers, it also provides a transport facility to registered groups and
individuals wishing to travel within 2.5 hours of Cardiff.
DR provides two services. Dial-a-Bus operates one large (10 seat) minibus. It is a bookable, sch&uled 'door
to 8hoppin9 centre and retum, shopping service that runs each day except weekends. It serves fwe areas of
Cardiff on weekdays and the Vale of Glamorgan on one day a week. Ring & Ride provides a bookable 'door
to door, bus service within the Cily of Cardiff OFerating from 9:30 to 16.00, Monday to Thursday, 09.30 to
15.30 Friday. It has a fleet of six smaller minibuses. The DR fleet of seven vehicles is owned and capitalised
by the L￿al Authorities.
The operation and finances of VEST are the responsibility of the Directors, who are also Trustees under the
Charities Act and hold their posts in an honorary capacity. In shaping the objectives for the year and planning
its activities, the Board has considered the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. The Charity
gives careful Gonsideration to ensuring its activities are accessible to all ellgible users from all aspects of the
Community.
Overall day-to-day operation of VEST is the responsibility of a salaried full-time Operations Manager paid
from cfs funds, to which the Cardiff and Vale local authorities make a 15010 gross salary contribution.
Community Trdnsport is dependent upon trained volunteer drivers to operate its services but also etnploys a
part-time admlnistrator, paid for from CT funds. At year-end, two administrative staff and eight full-time drivers
were employed on the provision of the DR Servi￿S. The driving staff are pald directly on ali agency basis by
the local authorities. This sum does not go through the VEST accounts but is quoted in the published
accounts to satisfy the Charity Commission's SORP requirements. In total 12 full or part time paid staff were
employed by VEST during the year.
The main sour￿$ of funding for Community Transport are fares, grants from Cardiff County Council Adult
Services Department, a bu5 servlces support grant, the local authority's manager's salary contribution,
donations, fund raising activities and interest on Community Transport's rese￿es.
Page 1

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
IV.E.S.T.) {Regi8tered number: 02059997)
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Revlew of actlvltles and future development8
2024-25 was our eighteenth full year at our Portmanmoor site. In November 2011, November 2016 and April
2021 w& negotiated an extension of our 5-year lease on this slte with our current landlord.
Overall, during 2024-25 we received 21,304 requests for service (up from 20,712 the previous yearl, of which
the customers subsequently cancelled 2,C61 (up from 1,944). We were unable to service 2,148 requests due
to the unavailability of a vehicle or driver at the date and time required, so that we seNiced 17,095 requests.
Overall, during the year, we satisfied 90.40A of demand, carried 20,145 passengers and the fleet covered
128,494 miles.
Each year Community Transport (CT) aims to make a surplus of income over expenditure before vehicle
depreciation of about £50k to service the vehicle replacement reserve. We also se8k additional grant funding
to help repla￿ old andlor inefficient vehicles. The current slate of the reserve is satisfactory, Vehicles are
replaced only when their reliability Wins to Cause concern. The council has loaned DR with 2 electric
taxi-style vehicles pending replacement of older minibuses,
Ther8 has been a fall in donations during the year to £171 (from £2,495). Fares income increased slightly to
£17,337 (from £16,696). Costs have increased due to additional administration and older vehicle repairs. The
net result of all this is that CT had a deficit of income over expenditure of £7,420. DR had a net deficit in-year
of £8,677. The Trustees and operatlons team continue to search for new 8nd novel forms of grant and
operations incoime. New vehicles will be operational from April 2025 onwards and it is expected this will
reduce the ever-increasing maintenance costs of the older vehicles we had in the fleet.
Cardiff Council Adult servI￿S grant continues and we have been advised that some funding for BSSG will
continue to be forthcoming.
Recorded data for VEST'S safety statistics confirm no significant change in standards ft)r the year, as in
previous reporting pen'ods, all incidents and accidents, were investigated as a matter of routine, and were of a
minor nature. Focussed driver training is key to sustaining safety standards. Prior to being allowed to drive
fleet vehicles, all drivers - whether volunteers or permanent staff - undergo training in compliance with the
Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MIDAS> which has been developed by the Community Transport
Association (CTA) and is nationally recognised and designed to enhance minibus driving standards and
promote safer operations.
Some marketing activities have been introduced to make the public at large more aware of the services we
provide and how they can benefit from them. Our web site has been updated with articles and descriptions of
our activities and we maintain an active social media presence but we are seeking to further enhance all
aspects during next year.
The composition of the Board has changed. Ceri Witchard has assumed the appointment as Chairperson,
Hugh Edney has resigned, and Rebecca Villis has assumed the role of Secretary. Roger Brown and Peter
Jones (Treasurer) have joined the board.
We are deeply indebted to our volunteers., without their excellent contribution the Community Transport
service could not operate. Our sincere thanks are also due to our Operations Manager, Richard Davies, our
administration staff and drivers for their hard work and outstanding commitment in providing these widety
appreciated services.
There are no restricted funds.
Public benefit
In shaping the objectives for the year and planning it5 activities, the trustees have considered the Charity
Commission guidance on public benefit.The charity gives careful consideration to ensuring its activities are
aGcessible to all elvJible users from all aspects of the community.
Page 2

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.) (Register6d number: 02059997)
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Risk PAanagement
The Trustees review the risks & uncert2inties facing the charity on a regular basis in line with its adopted risk
management policy.
Reserves
The board regularly review the required reserves of the charity. This review encompassed the nature of
Income and expenditure streams, the need to match variable income with fixed commitments and the nature
of the reserves. The Directors are aware of the need to continually monitor reserves, but are satisfied they
currently hav8 adequate resources to fulfil their requirements for the foreseeable future. During the year the
charity's general reseNe decre8sed to £362,994.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
VEST ￿$ a company limited by guarantee, Ss defined by the Companies Act 2006 and is without share capital.
The company is also a registered char5ty. It is govemed by a Memorandum and Articles of Associatron that
were last amended on 26 September 2013.
Recrultment and appolntm8nt of new tNstee8
The appointed trustees actively encourage and seek to identify appropriate persons to join the board as
trustees. On appointment each new trustee is provided with a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association and the latest Trustees Annual Report and Accounts, Appropriate training aiid induction is
provided to enable any new trustee to fulfil their duties.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
02059997 (England and Wales)
Reglstered Charlty number
518275
Reglst8red offlce
Unit 45
Portmanmoor Road Industrial Estate
Cardiff
CF24 5HB
Trustees
Ms C R Davies
Prof M Healey Retired
R C Green (resigned 10.5.25)
C L Witchard (Chairperson) (resigned 8.5.25)
Ms R Villis (Civil Servant) (resigned 8.5.251
R C Brown Retired
P A Jones (Treasurer)
Company Secretary
Ms C R DavES
Independent Examlner
Stephen Horrigan FCA
DHB Accountants Limited
Chartered Accountants
statutory Auditors
11 O Whitchurch Road
Cardiff
CF14 3LY
Page 3

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.) {Reglstered number: 02059997)
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act
20￿ relating to small companies.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on .....,
and signed on its behalf by..
tee
Page 4

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.)
Statsment of Trustees. Responslbllities
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
The trustees (who are also the directors of VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT (V.E.S.T.)
for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial
statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom
Generally A¢￿pIed Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true
and falr view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of
resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those
financial statements, the trustees are requlred to
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.,
obseNe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP.,
make judgements and estimates that are ￿asOnable and prudent.,
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
charitable company will conts'nue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy
at any time the finaiicial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial
statements cornply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of
the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the preVent￿n and deteGtion of fraud and
other irregularities.
Page 5

Independent Examlner's Report to the Trnstees of
VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.) (Registered number: 02059997)
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of VQLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
{V.E.S.T.) ('the Company.)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended
31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basi8 of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are
responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requiremei)ts of the Companies Act
2006 (Yhe 20C6 Acf).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited undèr Parl 16 of the
2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charty's
accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'}. In carrying out my
examination I have followed the Dlrections given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the
2011 Act.
Independent examlner'8 Statement
Since your Gharity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I
can confirm that l am qualified to undertake the examination because l am a member of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confim that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the
&xamination giving me cause to beli8ve:
accounting records were not k8Pt in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006
Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records., or
the accounts do not Gomply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other
than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view whlch is not a matter considered as
part of an independent examination., or
the accounts have not been prepared in accordan￿ with the methods and principles of the Statement
of Recommended Practice for accoLtntlng and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing
their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic
of Ireland (FRS 102}).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which
attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached,
Step
en Horrigan FCA
DHB Accountants Limited
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
110 Whitchurch Road
Cardiff
CF14 3LY
Date..
Page 6

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
IV.E.S.T.I
Statement of Financial Actlvitjes
(Incorporatlng an Income and Expenditure Account)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
2025
Unrestrictsd
fund
2024
Total
funds
Notes
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Grants, donations and legacies
Charitable actlvftles
Charitable activikn'es
287,808
278,538
1 D3,833
125,308
Investment income
3,851
3,741
Total
395.492
407,587
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activltles
Charitable activities
298,572
316,499
Other
113,805
84,546
Total
412,377
401,045
NET INCOMEI(EXPENDITURE)
(16,885)
6,542
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
379,879
373,337
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
362,994
379,879
The notes form part of these fi'nancial statements
Page 7

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TrANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.) (Reglstered number: 02D59997)
Balance Sheet
31 March 2025
2025
Unrestricted
fund
2024
Total
funds
Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
54,283
72,378
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
47,261
283,020
62,547
267,598
330,281
330,145
CREDITORS
Amounts falling diie within on& year
10
{?.1,570)
(22,644)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
308,711
307,501
TOTALASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
362,994
379,879
NET ASSETS
362,994
379,879
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds..
General fund
11
362,994
379,87S
TOTAL FUNDS
362,994
379,879
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for
the year ended 31 MarGh 2025.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended
31 March 2025 in accordance with Sectj'on 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
{a)
ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387
of the Companies Act 2006 and
preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charrtable
company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in
accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which othewise comply with the
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the
charitable company.
(b)
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 8
contin

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.) (Regi8t8red number.. 02059997)
Balance Sheet- continued
31 March 2025
These financial ststements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable
companies subject lo the small companies regime.
The finan
al statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on
. and were signed on its behalf by,.
PAJone
Truste
The notes form part of these flnancial statements
Page 9

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
IV.E.S.T.)
Notes to the Flnancial Ststements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
ACCOUNTING POLICIÈS
Basis of preparfng thg financlal statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102,
have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102> 'Accounting and Reporting by
Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in
accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS
102) (effective 1 January 2019),, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard
applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements
have been prepared under the historitsi cost convention.
The financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling which is the functional operating currency of
the Charity.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Flnancial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the
funds, it is probable that the income will be re￿iVed and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from govemment and other grants are recognlsed when the charity has entitlement to the
funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income
will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured
reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation
committing the charity to th8t expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be
required in settlement and th8 amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditur8 IS
accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classrfied under headings that aggregate all cost
related to the category, Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been
all¢xated tr) activities on a basis consistent with the use of reSoUr￿s.
Donatlons and gift8
Donations and gifts are recognised when received,
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity. Donated Se￿iceS
are included in incomeing resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the
benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and materials.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated
useful life,
Motor vehicles
Computer equipment
25Ye on reducing balance
25(/po on reducing balance
Taxation
There is no taxation liability arising on these accounts as the company is a registered charity whose
income and gains are applied 8xclusively for charitable purposes.
Fund accountlng
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives st the discretion of the
trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity.
Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted
purposes.
Page10
contin

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.)
Notes to the Financial Statements - contlnued
for the Year Ended 31 Kqarch 2025
ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
Fund accounting
Further explanation of the nature ané purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial
statements.
INVESTMENT INCOME
2025
2024
Deposit account interest
3,851
3,741
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
2025
Charitable
activities
2D24
Total
activities
Fares
Profit on disposal of vehicles
93,080
10,753
119,908
5.400
103,833
125,3D8
NET INCOPIEI(EXPENDITURE)
Net incom@l(expenditurel is stated after chargingl(crediting}'.
2025
2024
Depreciation - owned assets
18,095
17,513
TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFrrs
There were no trustee8' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 MarGh 2025 nor for the
year ended 31 March 2024.
Trustees. expens08
There were no trustees, expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended
31 March 2024.
STAFF COSTS
The average monthly nurnber of employees during the year was as follows,.
Manager
Administration
Drivers
2025
2024
12
11
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60, 000.
Pase11
contin

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
{V.E.S.T.)
Notes to the Financlal Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
STAFF COSTS - continued
VEST employees 11 people, a manager, 3 assistant administrators and 8 drivers. The manager is paid
from CT funds, to which the local authorities contribute a supplementary grant of 15 % of her gross pay
cost. All other stsff are employed by and paid direct by the local authorities on an agency basis. The
totsl gross value of thls agency payment during 2024125 was £215,764.
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
fund
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Grants, donations and legacies
Charitable activltl88
Charitable activities
278,538
125,308
Investment income
3,741
Total
407,587
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activitie8
Charitable activities
316,499
Other
84,546
Total
401,045
NET INCOME
6,542
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought fotward
373,337
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
379,879
Page 12
contin

VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORT
(V.E.S.T.)
' Detalled Statement of Flnanclal Activities
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
2025
2024
INCOMEAND ENDOWMENTS
Grants, donatlons and legacles
Donations and gifts
Bus Service Support Grant
Grants re￿1vable
171
9,355
278,282
2,495
8,576
267.467
287.808
278,538
Investment income
tkposit account interest
3,851
3,741
Charitable activltles
Fares
Profit on disposal of vehicles
93,080
10,753
119,g08
5,400
103,833
125,308
Total Incoming resources
395,4g2
407,587
EXPENDITURE
Charitablo activltles
Wages
Motor expenses
Travel and subsistence
Protective clothing
Computer maintenan￿ & Support
Trainlng
Vehicle Depreclation
Mobile Telephone and Radio
Telephone
215,764
52,729
1,653
513
4,992
156
18,094
1,873
2,798
217,470
65,660
1,364
7,234
429
17,513
4.063
1,925
298,572
316,499
Support costs
Management
Wages
Pensions
Rent & Rates
Insuran
Light and heat
Postage and stationery
Accountancy
Sundries
Legal costs (DBS checks)
Repairs & Maintenance
53,737
745
30,914
1,577
6,888
1,822
2,230
2,194
4,097
8,814
35,187
33.770
2,766
2.971
2,671
2,209
1,002
3,204
113,018
84,546
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 16